Spotlight on Locals: Racine Educators United

January 4, 2019

WEAC Vice President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen (middle, left) delivers the WEAC Strong Local Affiliate Certificate to Racine Educators United President Angelina Cruz (middle, right) at the REU Representative Assembly. Racine Educators United members gather in solidarity with signs demonstrating their activism and commitment to their students and public schools in Racine.

By Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, WEAC Vice President

When I asked Angelina Cruz, 5th and 6th grade English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher, currently serving as the President of the Racine Educators United, about the success of their local, she said, “As we have rebuilt over the last couple of years, new people have stepped up.” This engagement can be seen in the photograph taken at the REU Representative Assembly when I presented them with the WEAC Strong Local Affiliate Certificate. Angelina also told me, “People are embracing an organizing model of our union.”

That organizing work can be seen in their most recent success in partnership with their Community Coalition, My School My Voice. They worked collaboratively with the City of Racine to include a property tax insert outlining state funding levels for Racine Unified and funding levels for private and voucher schools in Racine.

When I asked how they achieved this, Angelina said, “We gathered over 800 signatures in support of voucher transparency to share with Mayor Cory Mason and the Racine City Council through showings of the documentary film Backpack Full of Cash and with tables at other large events and festivals in Racine. Now, I have educators reaching out to me from the villages of Mount Pleasant and Caledonia asking why their tax bills are not showing this information. For us, our first step was the city, and our next step in this campaign includes lobbying the nearby villages.”

That may not be necessary if Governor-Elect Tony Evers is successful in passing state law that would ensure voucher transparency. Statewide, folks in our communities have a right to know how much money is being siphoned from our public schools, which serve all students, to fund private and voucher schools, which serve a select group of students.

Ryan Knudson, 8th grade studies teacher and secretary for the Racine Educators United, told me, “We are the only group fighting for public education and our students. When we stand up, together, for our students, good things happen.” Ryan also said, “Our most important successes are when we talk to our colleagues about who we are and the work we are doing, and they see the value in joining with us and fighting for our community. To me, these are the important victories.”

Norma Cortese, 5th grade dual language teacher, said, “The strength of our local is that although we have different roles in our daily lives, our main goal is to do what’s best for students. We continue to work districtwide in collaboration with the school board and the school district toward decisions that are good for kids.”

Cortese also highlighted the history of local strength success in Racine by saying, “Our local has always been committed to our students and our profession whether it was a few years back when the elementary teachers combined forces to advocate for removal of an ineffective reading program or when we rallied with our union brothers and sisters at the Capitol in Madison.”

The Racine Educators United can be counted on as powerful advocates. Cortese also said, “We need to be involved in broad-based community coalitions which is why I am a part of a number of Hispanic community organizations and engaged with my students and their families outside of the classroom.”

Angelina also said, “Another success was protecting our employee handbook when the School Board recently considered changes.” Since Racine, like districts statewide, has staff guidelines outlined in policy within their handbook, it is important to recognize that changes in handbook language can dramatically impact educators’ working conditions, which have eroded over time. It’s local unions like the Racine Educators United who continue to work toward better conditions for all educators. United, we can advocate for improvements like mandatory prep time and just cause language for all employees.

Gwen Shaw-Scott, a dedicated Education Support Professional for Racine Unified School District, reiterated this sentiment saying, “Our strength is our willingness to fight for issues that come up every day. We always stand firm with administration to resolve any issue working to make our students’ and members’ lives better.”

When I asked Angelina for advice to other local leaders in Wisconsin, she said, “While the challenges in public education feel big and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, find issues that matter to your members and your community. When you begin to tackle these one at a time, you can make a difference for your students and your community. This is difficult work, but important work, that no one else is doing.”

A message from President Bell

My name is Debra Bell and I am the president of WEAC Region 1. I am very excited to be leading our region again this year. I have taught for 34 years at Boyceville Community School District. I have been secretary, vice president, head negotiator, president and have served on the executive board for both the region and the state. There are many exciting things happening in our union, in our locals, in our region, and in our state! I would like to encourage each member to get involved and commit to doing at least one thing or more this year. It can be as simple as going to WEAC.org and taking time to look at what is happening. Or try to attend a meeting, read our newsletters, and "like" our facebook site. I chose to step up because I'm confident that you will too!

Our executive board, our Region 1 staff directors, and our secretary work hard to meet all of our needs. They have stepped up to take leadership roles in our region! It would be wonderful if all of you also made a commitment to get involved, too. Join the conversation. Help us help each other! We really love what we do, and the more people who come to meetings, attend events, and read our Facebook site, the the more unified we are and the stronger we become!

In Solidarity,
Debra H. Bell
Region 1 President

WEAC News

Constant communication and outreach are the keys to keeping the Beaver Dam Education Association strong, BDEA leaders told WEAC Vice President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen in her latest Spotlight on Locals column. “We work to educate our members on how to be an active member and how to get involved on the district level,” said Past President Kris Schumacher, a middle school art teacher.

WEAC is a co-sponsor of Every Teacher a Leader training June 25-26 in Madison. Teacher leaders are the heart of successful schools. Every Teacher a Leader promotes, supports, and grows teacher leadership and voice. Develop your ideas and meet others who can support you along the way. Register by March 29!